I’m Julia, a.k.a. Mama MOE, a freelance fashion writer turned mama of three (one plus twins!).
I’ve always loved writing and telling ‘the story’. When I was in Europe meeting high fashion designers, I liked getting to know them as people. I was lucky enough to land an intern job at a local hotel fashion magazine, and not long after worked with Italy Magazine as a lifestyle and fashion writer. My first big interview was with fashion designers Dean and Dan Caten, the Canadian twins behind DSquared2. Living in Milan at the start of the new millennium was beyond incredible. It was a great time to experience fashion in one of the fashion capitals of the world. I had the opportunity to meet the greats like Giorgio Armani and Otttavio Missoni (more on my interviews and stories to come).
Fashion aside, living in Italy was a fantastic experience for the creative mind; Easter Sunday at the Vatican, taking a drive to the last Pavarotti and Friends concert in Modena, visiting Venice during Carnavale…it was a dream. Not to mention the times my husband and I travelled outside of Italy!
When it was time to return to Montreal, I dabbled in fashion again for local magazines, and for a while I was the denim columnist (yes, that really is a thing) for a Canadian B2B magazine. But nothing came close to the freedom I had when writing what I wanted, when I wanted. And then my whole life changed. I lost my Dad and gave birth to my first son. Both the terrible and the amazing occurred together, and my whole perspective was different.
My writing took a turn to pregnancy and babies and I researched and read all I could find about raising children and living as a parent. Oddly enough, my last fashion piece was for Italy Magazine about children’s fashion and it arrived at my door the day I brought my baby boy home from the hospital. J
My fashion sense went from sleek designer wear to sweat pants and nursing tops. And I was ok with that. In fact, I loved it. While I still love fashion and the arts, my true calling has always been raising a family, so naturally, I decided to focus on writing about that. That’s how Ask Mama MOE was born.
Something New
Recently, I took the time to go over the blog, our family experiences, and recognized a re-design was in order to celebrate these changes! My boys are getting a little older now, and our interests as a family have developed into new areas. Personally, I am celebrating a milestone this year and leaning more into travel and lifestyle pieces, as well as getting back into fashion and beauty. But I am happy to say that with selective reviewers, I am working with mamas in all stages of motherhood.
My blog remains, as always, a combination of family-friendly living, core family values mixed with a lot of fun. My product and service reviews are carefully selected and honest. My focus has always been on healthy, safe and educational products for babies, children and families. If we wouldn’t use it as a family unit, you won’t find it on the blog.
I’m proud that I have been a trusted source of honest and true content for various publications such as Shoppers Drug Mart, CheapFlights.ca, and CAA . When I receive positive feedback from readers and brands (such as Disney and Pixar to name a few – pinch me!), it gives me fuel to continue writing in my own voice, and follow my passion.
Aside from my blog, guest writing from time to time, I’ve also been sought out by brands to consult them with their social media. I have curated a group of Montreal-based bloggers for brand campaigns and have managed campaigns for brands as well.
If you have a product or service you would like me to review, feel free to e-mail me.
I hope you enjoy my blog as much as I love creating it.
